New York Mets Sign Veteran Reliever to MLB Deal

The New York Mets are bringing in another arm with plenty of bullpen experience to compete for a spot next season.

The New York Mets have reportedly signed pitcher Austin Adams to a one-year Major League deal with, per MLB.com.

Adams was with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2023, where he contributed to their run to the World Series, which ended in a five-game loss to the Texas Rangers.

With the Diamondbacks he went 0-1 in 24 relief appearances with a 5.71 ERA. He threw just 17.1 innings, giving up 16 hits and 12 runs. He struck out 22 and walked eight.

The 31-year-old right-hander wasn’t able to finish the season after he suffered a right ankle fracture that put him on the 60-day injured list on Aug. 2. On Nov. 6 Adams opted for free agency and received his outright release.

The Mets are acquiring a reliever with 132 MLB appearances since he broke into the league in 2017 with Washington. He’s played for the Nationals, the Seattle Mariners and the San Diego Padres.

He’s put together a pair of quality seasons, most recently with San Diego in 2021, where he made 65 appearances, went 3-2 with a 4.10 ERA and struck out a career-high 76. He also led the Majors in hit batters with 24.

In 2019 with Washington and Seattle he went 2-2 with a 3.94 ERA in 30 games with 53 strikeouts.

The Mets, under new president of baseball operations, are seeking to rebuild their bullpen to backstop a potential rotation of Kodai Senga, Joey Lucchesi, Tylor Megill, José Quintana and José Butto. 

A potential starter, David Peterson, had hip surgery and will miss part of 2024. And the Mets are believed to be pursuing free-agent pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto.